Oldcastle, County Meath. Ireland

Oldcastle is a town in County Meath, Ireland. It is located in the northwest of the county near the border with Cavan, approximately 13 miles from Kells. The R154 and R195 regional roads cross in the town's market square.
The town of Oldcastle was the 18th-century creation of the Naper family, who received parts of the Plunkett estate following the Cromwellian wars. Due in part to the continuation of a Gaelic way of life, the area suffered badly during the Great Famine (1845-‘9) in comparison with richer, more arable areas in the southern part of Meath. The poorest inhabitants were obliterated by starvation and emigration. Nonetheless, land patterns still visible today reveal a strong attachment to pastoral farming of ‘Gaelic Culture'.
Oldcastle had a Prisoner of War Camp from 1914 - 1918, it was the only permanent civilian POW camp in Ireland, detaining so-called ‘enemy aliens’.

[@AlsWorld666]

My dad and his family were raised here until my nan passed a few years ago. I have very fond memories of Oldcastle growing up and it will always remain in my heart

[@roseclarke8237]

Beautiful town. Been there many times, my family are farmers in clonnabrainey

[@Isabellaacapella]

My mother was from here, maiden name Bardon. They had a farm. I often wonder if it still exists, and the actual farmhouse where she grew up! I don’t know exactly where it was and only visited my grandmother once, in the seventies so don’t know much of Oldcastle (mum moved to England) but if anyone has any information I’d be so grateful!

[@joemisty99]

I have family from here, their name is Geraghty.

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

I worked in Oldcastle in 1974 I left in total disgust and went back home to Downpatrick. I never went back near it.

[@lindiwefaraibadze929]

Why?

[@Whizzy-jx3qe]

@@lindiwefaraibadze929 I worked on a dairy farm (Kilroy’s) just outside Oldcastle. My co workers weren’t very friendly,I lived with a family not far from the dairy,I used to bring milk to the family every morning following milking.My co workers emptied half the milk from the can and topped it up with water. Also I used to ring home from a hotel in Oldcastle,all my conversations were been monitored my the hotel receptionist,anything of importance was then relayed to my employer. That’s why I left Oldcastle.

[@lindiwefaraibadze929]

@@Whizzy-jx3qe that was a bad experience,am sorry you had to go through all that..I understand now where you are coming from.

[@FrankieFlood-r8v]

Father ray kelly was priesting here!

[@FrankieFlood-r8v]

Father ray kelly was priesting here!